MEDAL of HONOR

Since the Medal of Honor was created in 1861 there have been 3,469 awarded. Approximately half were awarded during the Civil War alone.

Army-1862-1895

Army-1896-1903

Army-1904-1944

Army-1944-Present

Navy1913-1942

Navy-Tiffany-Cross-1919-1942

Navy-1862-1912

Navy-1942-Present

The Medal of Honor is the highest US Military honor awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. It is awarded by the President on behalf of the Congress and represents the gratitude of the American people.

There are two methods of being nominated for the Award. The most common is for the service member to be nominated and approved by the chain of command for his organization, the other is to be nominated by Congress and approved by a special Act of Congress.

The presentation is usually made at a formal ceremony, by the President, at the White House. Medals awarded posthumously are presented to the primary next of kin. Since 1941 more than half of the Medals have been awarded posthumously.

There are three versions of the Medal, Army, Navy, and Air Force. Marine and Coast Guard members receive the Navy version.

The Medal and any associated ribbon or badge is protected by law from any unauthorized adornment, sale or manufacture to maintain the high level of prestige associated with the award.

CRITERIA

The criteria for the nomination has evolved over time. In the 1800s there was no other authorized military decoration so the Medal was awarded for any act outside regular battlefield involvement. In the early 1900s, the Navy issued two versions of the Medal, one for combat and one for non-combat acts of bravery. During World War I the Army would tighten it’s nominations to acts of valor under combat conditions while the Navy would keep it’s peacetime, Tiffany Cross, conditions until 1963. In July of 1963 Public Law 88-77 standardized the criteria to combat acts only.

PRESENTATION HISTORY

The first Army Medals of Honor were presented in March 1863 to the “Andrews Raiders”, six men who hijacked a Confederate railroad train, by Sec. of War Stanton.

Andrews Raiders

The first Navy Medals of Honor were presented April 1863, to 41 sailors for their actions during the battles for St. Philip and Fort Jackson, by Sec. of War Stanton.

Fort Jackson

The first Marine awarded the Navy Medal of Honor was John F. Mackie, July 1863, for his actions on the USS Galena.

USS Galena

The only Coast Guardsmen to receive the Navy Medal of Honor was Douglas Munro, May 1943, for evacuating 500 Marines under fire on Guadalcanal. The Medal was presented posthumously.

Douglas Munro

The only woman awarded the Army Medal of Honor was Mary Edwards Walker, 1865, a civilian Union Army surgeon for her action at the First Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Atlanta.

Mary Edwards Walker

WAR on TERROR RECIPIENTS

While it is unfortunate that conditions still exist for the performance of such acts of valor to be recognized, we proudly salute the following individuals.